Comparing the Ohio State and Alabama RB Corps from Top-to-Bottom

Ohio State and Alabama have two of the best rushing games in the nation. So good, in fact, that on the strength of the run game we are going to see a resurgence of a great rivalry.

A few seasons ago, comparing the Big Ten and SEC was all the rage. Florida was atop the SEC, Ohio state was dominating the Big Ten, and Michigan wasn't far behind.

The general consensus was that there was not much separation between the two conferences.

The debate raged back and forth for a few years, but has recently settled into the obscure corner of football folklore reserved for debates that have been ended, as the SEC continued to assert its dominance, and the Big Ten has still only one BCS title to its name.

Moving into the 2013 season, the debate is going to be re-opened, because of the resurgence of the Urban Meyer-led Ohio State Buckeyes.

At the end of the season, when all the dust settles, there is a very real possibility that Ohio State will have completed its second straight perfect season. Whether that will be enough to earn them a BCS title game bid remains to be seen, as their schedule is about as strong as a wet noodle.

All that said, it's easy to see why Alabama from the SEC and Ohio State from the Big Ten sit atop just about every preseason ranking. The two teams are experienced, have excellent coaches and feature stout running games.

Going strictly off last season's yardage per game, OSU ranked 10th in the nation, with Alabama not far behind at 16th.

So given that both teams have a chance to run the table, and both feature strong rushing attacks, this list will compare the two units top to bottom, and declare an advantage at the end.

No word yet on whether the result of this comparison will be used in the BCS formula this season.

5. Receiving

This one is a bit confusing. Neither team uses running backs heavily as receivers, so the numbers for both teams are somewhat low.

Ohio State starter Carlos Hyde only caught eight passes all of 2012 for an average of 6.4 yards.

Yeldon, as a freshman splitting carries with Eddie Lacy, finished the season with 11 receptions, averaging over 11 yards per catch, and scored the game-winning touchdown on a passing play against LSU.

Moving down the depth charts, Rod Smith had only two receptions for OSU last season, while Kenyan Drake had none for 'Bama.

Derrick Henry is a stud, but he's a freshman for the Tide, and it remains to be seen how much he will contribute in the game at all. Ohio State third-stringer Bri'onte Dunn will enter his sophomore season this fall, and has still yet to catch a pass.

Yeldon's improved hands over the course of the season gives the Tide a boost, but as neither team features a strong use of running backs in the passing game, this one is even.

1. Depth

On the surface, it would appear that the Buckeyes have more depth, as Carlos Hyde, Warren Ball, Bri'onte Dunn and Rod Smith all return to the unit.

But Alabama's running backs are stacked heading into 2013.

Besides the aforementioned T.J.Yeldon and Kenyan Drake, the Tide return Dee Hart and Jalston Fowler from knee surgery, while freshman Derrick Henry is a beast who will earn playing time this fall.

So while both teams have an equal number of contributing running backs returning to the field, Alabama's several different styles earns them the nod in this category.

Fowler is a monster who can dominate in short yardage situations. Yeldon and Drake are both balanced guys with the ability to have an impact as slashers as well as pounding the ball. Hart is freaky fast.

From an objective viewpoint, the Tide just have the better talent heading to the field this fall.